Posted on 12/17/2002 8:45:52 AM PST by blam
Source: Purdue University
Date: 12/17/2002
Purdue Research Hints That Birds Could Spread Ebola Virus
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Ebola shares a closer relationship with several bird viruses than was previously thought, bolstering the case for a common ancestor and hinting that birds might carry the deadly virus, a Purdue University research team reports.
David Sanders and his research group have discovered that the outer protein shell of Ebola has a biochemical structure similar to several retroviruses carried by birds. As scientists had known previously of genetic similarity among the viruses, this discovery makes a common evolutionary origin even more likely. It also suggests that Ebola could be spread to human populations by birds as well.
"We knew these viruses were inwardly similar, and now we see their outer similarity as well," said Sanders, associate professor of biological sciences in Purdue's School of Science. "While bird transmission of Ebola is by no means certain, the resemblance among all these viruses should encourage health officials to be on guard for it."
The research appears in Sunday's (12/15) Journal of Virology. Two contributors to the group's research are Scott Jeffers, a graduate student in Sanders' laboratory, and Anthony Sanchez, an Ebola virus expert at the Centers for Disease Control.
Since its discovery in 1976, Ebola has been responsible for hundreds of deaths in central Africa. Though the source of the virus in nature remains unknown, both humans and monkeys appear susceptible. Death rates of between 50 percent and 90 percent are common during outbreaks.
"Ebola is one of the viruses with which the U.S. agencies in charge of biodefense are most concerned," Sanders said. "Identification of its natural hosts should be a priority."
This research was sponsored by the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Purdue Research Foundation.
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Note: This story has been adapted from a news release issued for journalists and other members of the public. If you wish to quote any part of this story, please credit Purdue University as the original source. You may also wish to include the following link in any citation:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/12/021217072529.htm
LOL, two months late, I'll take it!
Much of the trade is legal,thank goodness,but the blackmarket is spooky because there is big money to be made by the unscrupulous that will ship anything to make a dollar.
We have no way of knowing what little bugs might already be in the pipeline for a quick plane ride to the U.S. or elsewhere.
Spooky Bump!
Sorry,I couldn't link you but I think Blams' article deserved another bump.
Many people would be surprised at the many different kinds of critters shipped and flown to places like Taiwan,Hong Kong,and mainland China,also the things brought into the U.S.
In legal trade that I know of some critters can be caught live and be on a plane to Asia within just a few hours at times.
Some articles have reported that Iraq and Cuba were researching W.Nile for Bio-weapons and IIRC Israel and England started having W.Nile problems shortly before we did.It doesn't smell quite right,anyway.
Hope your fiance' is well and you have a short separation.
I read that link before and had forgotten all about the Polio type symptoms showing up.Some short term meds have been getting the best of my memory at times lately. ;{
Bump,Blam.I'm surprised this article hasn't drawn more notice.Maybe it's just too spooky to consider. :o(
Nah, they just don't like me. <>
The other comments at later dates I was thinking of by EOTS,Blam and myself mostly were about West Nile,Ebola and possible bird vectors,etc.
Sorry I can't be more help but Blam or EOTS might be.
BTW, since the article doesn't specifically discuss SARS-like symptoms it shouldn't get a SARS keyword. (Things were confusing over there back in February, however, due to the resurgence of avian influenza as well as SARS).
There had been health problems in S.China for "some" time before I pinged EOTS to this thread and FR is about the only place I would have gotten the info.
EOTS had good reason to be watching the problems China was having.
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